Information retrieval apparatus

ABSTRACT

Cards that have been code-notched along one edge are randomly filed in capsules individually insertable in a card selector. A card is selected by code bars entering the notches and is then offset from the remaining cards by gravitational movement, facilitated by vibration of the cards. A rack in the capsule engages only an offset card and is meshed with a pinion. When the pinion is driven, it shifts the rack and the engaged card out of the capsule to a location where a card-transport device takes over to carry the card to a viewing, photographing, or card removal station.

United States Patent Laurence Allan Creel, Jr. Grovevllle, NJ.

Jon. S, 1970 Nov. 9, I971 ltudolotlc Dlto Systems, Inc.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Auignee INFORMATION RETRIEVAL APPARATUS [56] References Cled UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,394,247 7/ 1968 lruek 209/805 X 3,478,877 I l/l969 Parry 209/805 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Anomey- Sperry and Zoda ABSTRACT: Cards that have been code-notched along one edge are randomly filed in caplulea individually insertable in a card selector. A card is eelected by code bare entering the notches and is then offset from the remaining cards by gravitational movement, facilitated by vibration of the cards. A rack in the capsule engage: only an ofleet card and is methed with a pinion. When the pinion is driven, it shifts the rack and the engaged card out of the capsule to a location where a card-transport device take: over to carry the card to a viewing. photographing, or card removal station.

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INFORMATION RETRIEVAL APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention pertains to the art of automatic selection and retrieval of coded cards filed at random. In a more particular sense, the invention pertains to information retrieval systems in which a quantity of randomly filed cards is contained in a capsule insertable in equipment that first locates a particular card stored in the capsule, then displaces the selected card, and thereafter moves it to a position in which it can be either manually removed or alternatively, transported to a work station at which a desired operation may be performed, as for example photography of the card for duplication purposes, viewing of the card, the addition or removal of information carried by the card, etc.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is well known, in information retrieval apparatus, to code cards by notching the same along one edge, and select a wanted card by extension of code bars into the appropriate notches, thereby to obtain access to a card filed at random. It is known to provide, in automatic card selection equipment of this type, means that will displace the wanted card in respect to unwanted cards, and it is further known to transport the wanted card to a work station, either adjacent to or remote from the selection apparatus.

I-Ieretofore, equipment falling within the broad category described has in many instances been undesirably complex and, hence, expensive to buy and costly to maintain. And, it has been true also that such equipment has often been relatively unwieldy and heavy, and has required excessive floor space.

Another difficulty which has been noted in the prior art devices is found in the lack of capability for coupling such devices with transport mechanisms and work stations that will receive the selected card, position it exactly where desired, and thereafter return it to its storage place.

Many of the prior art devices, further, have had little adaptability for receiving decks, files, or groups of cards without first requiring removal of the cards from the containers in which they are normally stored, and this has contributed to excessive handling of the cards with attendant loss of time coupled with excessive wear and tear upon the cards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the invention is a card selection apparatus including a series of selector or code bars that correspond to code notches formed in a quantity of cards positioned over the code bars in a capsule in which the cards are filed at random. A control bar in the form of a rack, provided in each capsule, is unlatched simultaneously with movement of a drive pinion into engagement therewith. Selected code bars are then elevated into their corresponding notches. The notches of a wanted card that receive the bars will be of a width such as to permit the wanted cards to be displaced slightly in a lateral direction in respect to all the remaining-cards. This displacement is achieved by gravitation in the illustrated example, facilitated by vibration of the deck. A detent or retaining bar, in these circumstances, engages in detent notches of all the unwanted cards, but not in the corresponding notch of the selected card due to the fact that the selected card has been displaced and is thus disposed where its detent notch is offset from the detent or retaining bar.

When the pinion is driven, the control bar is shifted out of the capsule, carrying with it the wanted card. This locates the wanted card where it will be picked up, if desired, by a transport apparatus for movement to a viewing station. The capsule is designed in such a way that when the card is returned from said station, it is guided into the capsule can now be removed and stored elsewhere.

The construction is so designed as to permit the apparatus to be made independently of a transport and viewing mechanism, in such fashion that the card when moved out of the capsule by the control bar, can be manually removed and later manually returned for reinsertion in the capsule in the manner described.

so that the capsule BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side elevational view of apparatus according to the present invention, a portion being broken away;

FIG. la is an end elevational view of the apparatus as seen from the left of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device as seen from line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3-6 are transverse sectional views through the selection mechanism and the cards, showing the selection operation at successively following stages of a single cycle of card selection and removal;

FIG. 7 and 8 are views of the assembly for unlatching and dlriving the control bar, as it appears during and between cyc es;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the capsule, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 10 is a front and elevational view of the capsule;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view through the capsule as seen on line 11-11 ofFIG. 10;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are enlarged and elevational views of the card selection mechanism and capsule support structure, taken on line l2-l2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view through the front end of the capsule and the associated card chute; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the control plate or bar, per se.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I A stationary support structure, frame, or chassis, generally designated 10, capable of support upon a table top T, includes a baseplate 12 having upturned side flanges l3. Fixedly secured to and extending vertically upwardly from baseplate 12 are transversely aligned, spaced sideplates 14 having large, deep recesses I6 in which is mounted the card selection assembly generally designated 17. As shown in FIG. 1, this is mounted in recesses 16 through the provision of a selector assembly base 18 mounted on sideplates 14 by screws 20 extending through upstanding bearing plates 21 of base 18.

Carried by and extending between bearing plates 21 are support pins 22 extending through depending support blocks 24 of a wide selection mechanism-mounting plate 26 having an upstanding side flange 28 (see FIG. l2). Plate 26 lies, as does base 18, in a plane inclined approximately 45 from the horizontal.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and I2, secured to and extending upwardly from baseplate 26, in transversely spaced relation to the side flange 28 thereof, are transversely spaced, parallel capsule support plates 30 having outwardly turned guide edges 32 (FIG. 1a) to facilitate insertion and removal of a capsule C. Plates 30 are affixed to mounting plate 26 through the provision of inturned base flanges 34 welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the plate 26.

A solenoid support plate 38 is fixedly secured to and extends between flange 28 and the adjacent plate 30, and mounted upon plate 38 is a series of solenoids 40, having depending plungers 42 pivotally connected to the intermediate portions of selector members or code bars 44 independently swingable upwardly and downwardly upon a pivot shaft 46 extending between the outwardly projecting ends 48 of a pivot shaft support plate 50 mounted upon the flange 28.

Each member 44 is normally disposed in a lowered position shown in FIG. 13, between cycles of operation, in which position it is seated in an associated slot 54 of an elongated block 52 mounted between sideplates 30 as a support for capsule C.

Releasably engaging the members 44 in the lowered, inoperative positions thereof are leaf springs 56 having curved distal ends engageable in correspondingly curved-end recesses 57 of the members 44.

A single solenoid 58 secured to plate 26 is provided to return to their inoperative FIG. 13 positions, those selector members 44 elevated by energization of their associated operating solenoids 40. Solenoid 58, when energized, retracts its plunger 59, which is pivotally connected to a return bar 60 rockably mounted upon pivot shaft 46, and having a longitudinal, depending lip 62 overlying members 44. Thus, when solenoid 58 is energized, any members 44 that have been elevated to the FIG. 12 position will be pulled downwardly to their FIG. 13 position, ready for the next cycle of operation.

A quantity of randomly filed cards generally designated 64! is confined in a capsule C (FIG. 9-11 and 14). The capsule includes a molded plastic casing 66 of elongated, rectangular form having upper, intermediate, and lower pairs of confronting longitudinal ribs 67, 68, 70 respectively fonned upon the inner surface of the sidewalls of the casing to space the cards 64 (see FIG. 14) inwardly from said sidewalls.

Casing or container 66 is formed with an open bottom, except for the provision of front and rear crossmembers 72, 74 respectively extending between and integral with the sidewalls at the opposite ends of the container or casing 66.

The casing is also formed open at its front end, shown as the left-hand end in FIG. II, for insertion and removal of cards 64. The rear end of the casing is closed, and is formed with a card stop 76 limiting movement of the cards into the casing beyond their card selection position.

When a quantity of randomly filed cards is stored in the container, they will initially be supported upon the crossmembers 72, 74, in engagement at their rear ends with bumper or stop 76. This is the position of the cards preliminary to positioning of the capsule in the card selection apparatus.

Thus, it will be apparent that capsules containing quantities of cards randomly tiled in the capsules but falling within broad categories from which selection of a single card is to be made, can be kept within a library, file case, or other suitable storage location, awaiting use. When a particular card is to be selected, the capsule known to contain that card is positioned within the card selection apparatus, and the selection mechanism incorporated in said apparatus is then utilized to select the wanted card automatically, and eject it from the capsule.

Referring to FIG. 11, in the top wall of the capsule there is formed, intermediate the opposite ends of the container 66, a downwardly opening, shallow, internal recess 78 in which is pivoted a latch element 80 biased by a torsion spring 82 to a latching position shown in FIG. I 1.

Referring to FIG. 9, in the top wall of the container there is formed, at the front end thereof, a cutout or recess 84, through which is exposed the forward end of an elongated, flat control plate 86 of thin sheet metal, disposed within the container in closely spaced, parallel relation to the top wall thereof. The control plate 86 is formed as a rack, slidable into and out of the container. In FIG. Ill, the control plate is shown in its fully inserted position.

The control plate, as shown in FIGS. 3-6, is provided at its rear end with a transverse, soft rubber cushion 88 attached to a depending lip 90. Lip 90 is so cushioned to prevent damage to cards which, during the selection and discharge operation are engaged by the cushioned lip (see FIGS. and 6).

The control plate, shown per se in FIG. 15, is of a width such that lip 90 moves into the inclined rear ends 92 of elongated, longitudinal guide grooves 94 formed in the internal surfaces of the sidewalls of the container 66 (see FIG. 11). During movement of the control plate into and out of the container, the lip 90 rides within the guide grooves to guide the control plate in its proper path.

Guiding the front end of the control plate into the casing or container 66 are upwardly projecting tabs 96 (see FIG. II) which engage sloped guide surfaces 97 provided at opposite sides of the cutout or recess 84, and are guided thereby into the guide grooves 94.

The front end of the control plate is integrally formed with a folded, card-retaining tongue 98, which extends across the front ends of the confined cards 64 to prevent the cards from dropping out of the container when the capsule is in its inclined position, from end down, shown in FIG. 1.

As seen from FIG. 15, the folding of the tongue into a V- shape provides the desired abutment surface 100 on the control plate.

To confine the cards within a prescribed transverse area at a time when the entire deck drops partly out of the casing during a final stage of the operating cycle, there are provided, integral with the folded tongue 98, flat guide projections I02. These project rearwardly from the tongue at the opposite sides thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 15, the control plate is provided, longitudinally and centrally thereof with uniformly spaced, transversely extending apertures I04 defining rack teeth I06. The series of rack teeth extends the full length of the control plate, and when the control plate is slidably inserted in the container 66, the pivoted, spring-biased latch element 80 will ratchet over the teeth 106, ultimately engaging one of said teeth in the fully inserted position of the control plate. This holds the control plate in its fully inserted position shown in FIG. 11, and in these circumstances, the control plate will confine the cards 64 within the capsule, ready for the selection cycle.

Assuming now that the capsule is to be inserted in the capsule-receiving space 109 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, defined between the capsule support plates 30, the user merely inserts the capsule in the inclined position shown in FIG. 1, front end down, locating the capsule for the card selection operation through the provision of locating notches 108 (see FIG. 11) adapted to receive locating lugs or pins 111 (see FIG. I) projecting inwardly from the sideplates 30.

Pivotally supported by a transverse shaft 112 extending between sideplates 14 of support structure 10 are the arms of combined latch release and handle assembly 113. This is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in its inoperative and operative positions, respectively. In FIG. 1, assembly 113 is operatively positioned to disengage latch 80 from control plate 86.

The assembly 1 13 includes the pair of arms I10 rockable on shaft I12 to and from the operative, FIG. 1 position of assembly 113. At the free ends of arms 110, a head 114 is secured to and extends between the arms as shown in FIG. 2, and mounted upon the underside of the head is a permanent magnet 116.

When the arms are in their operative, FIG. 1 position, magnet I16 is lowered into close proximity to the top wall of the previously inserted capsule C. In these circumstances, magnet 116 will attract the metal latch 80, shifting the latch against the bias of spring 82, from the engaged FIG. 3 latch position to the disengaged position of the latch shown in FIG. 4.

In this way, the latch becomes disengaged from the control plate 86, so that the control plate will be free to be moved out of the container.

It may be observed at this point that movement of the assembly 113 from the inoperative, FIG. 7 position thereof to the operative position shown in FIG. 1 and 8 is effected manually, that is after the user places the capsule in the equipment, he lowers the handle to disengage the latch by magnetic attraction.

A pair of links 118 are pivotally connected at 119 to the respective arms 110, in spaced relation to the pivot point 112 of assembly 113. Links 1ll8, at their other ends, are formed with longitudinal slots 120, receiving transverse shaft or pin 122 which engages at its ends in slots 123 formed in sideplates I4 of support structure 10.

A pair of extension springs 124 are connected at one end to the ends of shaft 122, and at their other ends are connected to spring retainer studs 12S carried by sideplates 14. When the arms 110 are swung to their substantially upright, inoperative positions shown in FIG. 7, the shaft 122 will move to the righthand ends of slots 123 viewing the same as in FIG. 1, and will be held there by pull of the springs 124, so as to maintain assembly 113 releasably in its inoperative position.

Pivotally connected to assembly 113 by links 118 is a drive gear assembly 127. This includes a series of gears arranged as reduction gearing the purpose of which is to impart linear motion to the control plate, to shift the control plate out of the container 66.

Although the gearing may be varied, in the illustrated example it includes a first gear 128 driven by a belt 128a trained about a pulley secured to shaft 129 of a bidirectional, dualspeed gear drive motor 129a.

Gear 128 is carried by a shaft 130 extending between the sideplates 14 of the support structure 10. Shaft 130 thus remains in the same position both in the operative and inoperative positions of handle assembly 113, and gear assembly 127 pivots bodily on the shaft 130 between the FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 positions of said assembly 127. Gear 128 meshes with idler gear 126 carried by shaft 122, which is supported by gear frame sideplates 131. Plates 131 pivot on shaft 130 as seen in FIG. 7 and 8. A pinion 132 is in mesh with gear 126, and rotating with the pinion 132 is a sprocket 134 carried by shaft 135 mounted on and extending between sideplates 131. Sprocket 134, when assembly 113 is lowered to the operative, FIG. 1

position thereof, is brought into mesh with the rack teeth of the control plate 86.

A master switch 137 is closed by an extension 139 on one of the arms 110, when the handle assembly 113 is swung downwardly to the FIG. 1 position. Until this switch is closed, no electrical components of the apparatus are operable, because switch 137 is located in the circuitry of the equipment to control the flow of power from a source of current into the equipment.

A vibrator, which is per se conventional, is shown only diagrammatically in FIG. 1, being designated 141. The vibrator 141 is positioned to engage the inserted capsule C, hence imparting vibratory motion to the cards 64 confined in the capsule.

Designated generally at 136 is a card chute assembly, including a card guide wall 138 curving through 90 from the front end of the capsule. As shown in FIG. 2 and 14, a card 64 that is shifted out of the capsule through the open front end thereof will engage the wall 138, and since the cards are of thin flexible material, the card will be bent into a curved form as it continues in its forward movement, following the wall 138, and hence being shifted laterally outwardly from the capsule when the card is moved completely out of the container 66.

In closely spaced, parallel relation to the inner card guide wall 138 is an outer card guide wall 140, cooperating with the wall 138 to define therebetween a narrow, curved return channel 143 (FIG. 14). The return channel is provided with a wide, tapering entranceway 142.

Designated at 144 is a second motor. This motor includes a shaft 146 frictionally, drivingly engaged with a card feed roller 148, so disposed as to engage a card that is being returned through channel 143, and move said card in a return direction within channel 143, that is, back into the container 66.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it is there observed that each card 64 is formed, along its bottom edge, with a series of notches including an end notch 156 constituting a detent or control notch 156, and a plurality of selector notches 158.

In each card, notches 158 alternate with tabs 159, and according to the code impressed upon the individual card, certain of the tabs are removed whereby a pair of adjacent notches 158 are brought into communication, defining wider notches 158a, 158b.

OPERATION Before discussion of the operating details, it is appropriate to note that although FIGS. 3-6 show the cards and adjacent cooperating elements in a horizontal position, for convenience in illustrating and describing the construction, in actuality they are inclined as shown in FIG. 1.

In use, the operator selects a capsule for insertion in the equipment, and locates the capsule in said equipment in the inclined position shown in FIG. 1, through the medium of the locating pins 111 entering the locating notches 108 of the capsule.

When the capsule is inserted in this manner, it will be inclined as in FIG. 1, front end down, and the cards will remain supported upon crossmembers 72, 74 in close proximity to the plastic block 52, which will have entered the open bottom of the capsule between said crossmembers 72, 74.

In these circumstances, the cards will be in the position shown in FIG. 3. At this time, all the cards are in close proximity to the control plate 86, which will at this time still be engaged by latch as shown in FIG. 3.

Handle assembly 113 is now thrown to its operative position shown in FIG. 1. This disengages latch 80 and engages drive sprocket 134 with the rack teeth of control plate 86, so that the plate 86 is now held by the sprocket instead of the latch. At the same time, as previously noted, switch 137 is closed so that electrical components of the equipment may now be operated.

The cards will be prevented from falling out the front of the capsule, through the provision of the abutment surface on tongue 98.

The next step is to select a wanted card 160 from the mass of randomly filed cards 164. The wanted card 160 is selected by elevation of selector members 56a, 56b corresponding (see FIG. 3) to the code notches 158a, 158b of the particular card desired.

The selector members 56a, 56b enter the front portions of the wide code notches 158a, 158b of the wanted card. None of the unwanted cards 162 will have wide code notches both of which would be located with their forward portions'in position to receive the selector members 56a, 56b raised for the purpose of selecting the particular wanted card. Instead, one or both of the selector members 56a, 56b will enter a narrow notch or notches 158 of the unwanted cards 162.

This means that the selected card 160 is free to move from the FIG. 3 card position to the FIG. 4 position, in which the wanted card is displaced laterally in respect to the unwanted card, to a slight extent, as for example approximately onefourth of an inch.

After the selector members are elevated, the user depresses an operating key that starts operation of a motor that drives sprocket 134 at a slow speed, simultaneously with the vibrator 141.

Due to the vibratory action, the wanted card 160 moves forwardly, becoming displaced in respect to the unwanted cards 162, to the extent shown in FIG. 4. This is permitted by reason of the fact that the control plate 86 will have moved, at slow speed, from the FIG. 3 to the FIG. 4 position, whereby the abutment surface 100 is shifted forwardly, allowing the displacement of the wanted card by gravitational action encouraged by the vibratory motion. The wanted card is freeto become displaced by reason of the fact that it is the only card in which the raised selector members are in the forward portions of wide code notches 158a, 15%. All the other cards are held against displacement because the raised members 56a, 56b, or at least one of said members, are engaged in narrow notches of the unwanted cards. This is illustrated in FIG. 4.

When plate 86 moves to its FIG. 4 position, it engages the arm of a switch 161, closing a circuit that energizes the solenoid associated with a detent or retaining member 154. This enters detent notches 156 of all the unwanted cards 162. However, since the wanted card 160 has been displaced laterally as shown in FIG. 4, its detent notch 156 will be out of alignment with the detent member 154. Accordingly, raising of the detent member 154 will cause said member to engage an unnotched portion 164 (see FIG. of the wanted card 160. This displaces the wanted card upwardly in respect to the unwanted cards, to the FIG. 5 position.

This causes the wanted card to be located in the path of movement of the cushioned lip 90 provided at the rear end of the control plate 86.

The closing of switch 161 causes deenergizing of the vibrator, and also causes energization of solenoid 58 to lower the elevated selector members 56a, 56b. The closing of switch 161 also causes the motor that drives gear 128 to go into its higher speed operation, so that the control plate is now moved at a higher rate of speed, carrying with it the wanted card.

As seen from FIGS. 3-6, initially the control plate 86 is parallel with the upper edges of all the cards. in FIG. 4, movement of the front end of the plate causes it to drop at its front end so that it is now inclined slightly in respect to the upper edges of the unwanted cards. Then, in FIG. 6, it is cammed by a surface 165 of the support structure located outside the card chute, back to a parallel position.

The continued advancement of the control plate 86 will, as shown in H0. 6, carry with it the wanted card 160, which engages the inner card guide wall 138. This shifts the wanted card laterally, where it can be removed from the equipment in any way desired, whether manually, or by means of a transport device that will move it to a viewing station or other work station at which photography or other operations are to be performed.

The present invention concerns itself primarily with card selection and movement of a selected card to an access position, rather than with card transportation or the construction of work stations to which the card is transported. Accordingly, no showing has been provided herein with respect to feed rollers or transport means of other types, that engage the card and move it, often at high speed, after it has been shifted out of the capsule to a predetermined extent. it will suffice to note that the control plate, when it has been moved forwardly to an extent in which it is almost completely out of the capsule, can engage another switch, not shown, driving feed mechanism that would under these circumstances engage the wanted card and transport it to a work location. This switch would also terminate operation of the gear drive motor at this time. This is mentioned simply to show the adaptability of the present apparatus for coupling to a transport device. Similarly, no attempt has been made to show herein a transport device that returns the card, causing it to enter the return guide channel defined between walls 138, 140. it will suffice to note, as to return of the card, that feeding of the card into the entranceway 142 will, as shown in FIG. 14, cause the returned card 166 to be fed back into the capsule, as for example by means ofa feed roller 148.

To return the card, the user would depress a return key adapted to cause operation of the drive gear motor in a reverse direction to shift the control plate inwardly of the capsule. At the same time motor 144 is energized to drive return feed roller 148.

The returning card 166 is returned to the container 66, at a location between one side of the mass of cards 64, and the adjacent spacer ribs 67, 68, 70. Said ribs are provided with beveled ends 168 (see FIG. 14), defining a tapered entranceway 170 for the returning card, so that the card is moved back into the container without danger of fraying the leading end thereof.

As previously noted, the drive sprocket 134 has at this time been causing the control plate to be returned to its fully inserted position in the capsule Just prior to the point where the leading edge of the returning control plate 86 would strike the leading edge of the card being returned, the detend member 154 is reset, releasing all the unwanted cards and permitting them to come forwardly, by gravitational action, against the surface 100 of the control plate. Tabs 102 confine the cards within a prescribed transverse area. As the control plate continues its return movement into the capsule, it will move all cards, including the selected, returning card 166, back into their fully inserted positions within the capsule. When the control plate has been fully returned to the capsule, the motor drive is terminated. At this point, another card may be selected, or the entire capsule may be removed by lifting the assembly 113, causing the drive pinion 134 to disengage the control plate, and also causing the latch to drop, into a hole of the control plate, since the latch now will no longer be under control of the magnet.

I claim:

1. information retrieval apparatus comprising:

a. a quantity of cards coded along at least one edge thereof;

b. a support structure having a storage area for said cards;

c. selector means mounted adjacent said area and acting upon the coded edges of the cards to select a wanted card;

(1. a control plate extending adjacent other edges of the cards and shiftable in the direction of its own length subsequent to selection of the wanted card; and

e. means displacing the wanted card relative to the remaining cards into the path of the control plate prior to the movement of the control plate, for engagement and consequent removal of the wanted card by the control plate when the plate is subsequently shifted in the direction of its length.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, further including a capsule holding said cards and removably seated in said area.

3. lnforrnation retrieval apparatus comprising:

a. a quantity of cards each of which has a detent opening and a series of code openings;

b. a support structure having a storage area for said cards;

c. a series of selector members corresponding to said code openings and selectively insertable in the code openings of a wanted card;

d. means to displace the wanted card in respect to the remaining cards to position the wanted card for removal, the detent opening of the wanted card being offset from the detent openings of the remaining cards when the wanted card is displaced; and

e. detent means engageable in the detent openings of the undisplaced cards to hold the same in place during the removal of the wanted card, said capsule including a card container and a control plate, said plate being shiftable into and out of the container and having a lip engaging the displaced card to move it out of the container with the control plate.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 further including a latch normally engaging the control plate against movement out of the container, and latch operating means on the support structure for disengaging the latch.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, further including a support means for the latch-operating means mounted on the support structure for movement into and out of an operative position in which the latch-operating means disengages the latch, and control-plate-shifting means and disposed to shift the control plate into and out of the container when the support means is operatively positioned.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 in which the latch-operating means is a magnet.

7. Apparatus as in claim 5 in which the control plate is a rack and the control-plate-shifting means includes a pinion meshing therewith in the operative position of the support means.

8. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which the capsule includes means for guiding a previously removed card back into the capsule.

9. lnforrnation retrieval apparatus comprising:

a. a quantity of cards each of which has a detent opening and a series of code openings;

b. a support structure having a storage area for said cards;

c. a series of selector members corresponding to said code openings and selectively insertable in the said code openings of a wanted card;

d. means to displace the wanted card in respect to the remaining cards to position the wanted card for removal, the detent opening of the wanted card being offset from the detent openings of the remaining cards when the wanted card is displaced; and

e. detent means engageable in the detent openings of the undisplaced cards to hold the same in place during the removal of the wanted card, the capsule including means for guiding a previously removed card back into the capsule, said guide means comprising at least one internal projection in the capsule cooperating with the cards confined therein to define a tapering entranceway for the returned card.

10. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said code openings are a series of notches formed in the edges of the cards, the notches of all of the cards corresponding in number and location, each card having some notches of increased width in respect to the remaining notches thereof to allow displacement of a wanted card in respect to the remaining cards when the selected members enter only the wider notches of said wanted card.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 in which the selector members are formed as a series of bars any two of which are jointly shiftable into the corresponding notches of the several cards.

12. Apparatus as in claim 1 1 further including solenoid-controlled means for shifting the selected bars into the notches.

13. Apparatus as in claim 12 further including a solenoidcontrolled return bar extending the full length of the series of selector bars and movable by its associated control solenoid to return all the selector bars to a normal rest position free of said notches.

14. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the detent means is an elevatable detent bar underlying the several cards in registration with the detent openings of the undisplaced cards but not of the displaced wanted card, to offset the wanted card upwardly from the remaining cards when the detent bar enters the detent openings of the undisplaced cards.

15. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said container is tilted, having a lower open end through which the wanted card is to be removed, said means for displacing the wanted card including a vibrating device imparting vibratory motion to the several cards to free the wanted card for displacement through said lower open end, at least in part, by gravitational action.

16. Information retrieval apparatus comprising:

a. a support structure;

b. a capsule including a container removably supported on the support structure, said container having an open bottom and an open end, said capsule further including a control plate movable into and out of the container through said open end;

c. a quantity of cards in said container each of which has a bottom edge formed with a downwardly opening detent notch exposed through the open bottom and a series of code notches, some of the code notches being increased in width in respect to the remaining notches, the detent notches normally being in registration;

d. selector members mounted on the support structure for movement into selected wider notches of a wanted card, said wider notches leaving the wanted card free for lateral displacement through the open end of the container in respect to the remaining cards,

e. a detent bar aligned with and elevatable into the detent notches of the undisplaced cards, the lateral displacement of a wanted card locating an unnotched portion thereof in the path of the detent bar for offsetting of the laterally displaced card upwardly from the remaining cards into engagement with the control plate; and

f. means for moving the control plate, with the card engaged thereby, out of the container through said open end thereof.

17. Apparatus as in claim 16 in which the container is inclined from the horizontal with said end thereof being its lower end, and means on the support structure for vibrating the cards whereby to facilitate gravitation of the wanted card to its laterally displaced position during the time that the detent bar is engaged in the detent notches of the unwanted cards, to prevent gravitation of the unwanted cards from their original positions.

18. Apparatus as in claim 17 in which the control plate is formed with a series of rack teeth, said apparatus further including a latch on the container normally restraining the control plate against movement out of the container, a support arm pivoted on the support structure, a magnet on the support arm attracting the latch to a control-plate-disengaging position in a first position of the arm, and a gear train carried by said arm including a pinion meshing with the rack teeth in said first arm position to shift the control plate into and out of the container responsive to driving of the gear train, said magnet and gear train being clear of the latch and rack teeth respectively in a second position of the arm.

I l i i 

1. Information retrieval apparatus comprising: a. a quantity of cards coded along at least one edge thereof; b. a support structure having a storage area for said cards; c. selector means mounted adjacent said area and acting upon the coded edges of the cards to select a wanted card; d. a control plate extending adjacent other edges of the cards and shiftable in the direction of its own length subsequent to selection of the wanted card; and e. means displacing the wanted card relative to the remaining cards into the path of the control plate prior to the movement of the control plate, for engagement and consequent removal of the wanted card by the control plate when the plate is subsequently shifted in the direction of its length.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1, further including a capsule holding said cards and removably seated in said area.
 3. Information retrieval apparatus comprising: a. a quantity of cards each of which has a detent opening and a series of code openings; b. a support structure having a storage area for said cards; c. a series of selector members corresponding to said code openings and selectively insertable in the code openings of a wanted card; d. means to displace the wanted card in respect to the remaining cards to position the wanted card for removal, the detent opening of the wanted card being offset from the detent openings of the remaining cards when the wanted card is displaced; and e. detent means engageable in the detent openings of the undisplaced cards to hold the same in place during the removal of the wanted card, said capsule including a card container and a control plate, said plate being shiftable into and out of the container and having a lip engaging the displaced card to move it out of the container with the control plate.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3 further including a latch normally engaging the control plate against movement out oF the container, and latch operating means on the support structure for disengaging the latch.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4, further including a support means for the latch-operating means mounted on the support structure for movement into and out of an operative position in which the latch-operating means disengages the latch, and control-plate-shifting means and disposed to shift the control plate into and out of the container when the support means is operatively positioned.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 4 in which the latch-operating means is a magnet.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 5 in which the control plate is a rack and the control-plate-shifting means includes a pinion meshing therewith in the operative position of the support means.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which the capsule includes means for guiding a previously removed card back into the capsule.
 9. Information retrieval apparatus comprising: a. a quantity of cards each of which has a detent opening and a series of code openings; b. a support structure having a storage area for said cards; c. a series of selector members corresponding to said code openings and selectively insertable in the said code openings of a wanted card; d. means to displace the wanted card in respect to the remaining cards to position the wanted card for removal, the detent opening of the wanted card being offset from the detent openings of the remaining cards when the wanted card is displaced; and e. detent means engageable in the detent openings of the undisplaced cards to hold the same in place during the removal of the wanted card, the capsule including means for guiding a previously removed card back into the capsule, said guide means comprising at least one internal projection in the capsule cooperating with the cards confined therein to define a tapering entranceway for the returned card.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said code openings are a series of notches formed in the edges of the cards, the notches of all of the cards corresponding in number and location, each card having some notches of increased width in respect to the remaining notches thereof to allow displacement of a wanted card in respect to the remaining cards when the selected members enter only the wider notches of said wanted card.
 11. Apparatus as in claim 10 in which the selector members are formed as a series of bars any two of which are jointly shiftable into the corresponding notches of the several cards.
 12. Apparatus as in claim 11 further including solenoid-controlled means for shifting the selected bars into the notches.
 13. Apparatus as in claim 12 further including a solenoid-controlled return bar extending the full length of the series of selector bars and movable by its associated control solenoid to return all the selector bars to a normal rest position free of said notches.
 14. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the detent means is an elevatable detent bar underlying the several cards in registration with the detent openings of the undisplaced cards but not of the displaced wanted card, to offset the wanted card upwardly from the remaining cards when the detent bar enters the detent openings of the undisplaced cards.
 15. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said container is tilted, having a lower open end through which the wanted card is to be removed, said means for displacing the wanted card including a vibrating device imparting vibratory motion to the several cards to free the wanted card for displacement through said lower open end, at least in part, by gravitational action.
 16. Information retrieval apparatus comprising: a. a support structure; b. a capsule including a container removably supported on the support structure, said container having an open bottom and an open end, said capsule further including a control plate movable into and out of the container through said open end; c. a quantity of cards in said container each of which has a bottom edge formed with a downwaRdly opening detent notch exposed through the open bottom and a series of code notches, some of the code notches being increased in width in respect to the remaining notches, the detent notches normally being in registration; d. selector members mounted on the support structure for movement into selected wider notches of a wanted card, said wider notches leaving the wanted card free for lateral displacement through the open end of the container in respect to the remaining cards; e. a detent bar aligned with and elevatable into the detent notches of the undisplaced cards, the lateral displacement of a wanted card locating an unnotched portion thereof in the path of the detent bar for offsetting of the laterally displaced card upwardly from the remaining cards into engagement with the control plate; and f. means for moving the control plate, with the card engaged thereby, out of the container through said open end thereof.
 17. Apparatus as in claim 16 in which the container is inclined from the horizontal with said end thereof being its lower end, and means on the support structure for vibrating the cards whereby to facilitate gravitation of the wanted card to its laterally displaced position during the time that the detent bar is engaged in the detent notches of the unwanted cards, to prevent gravitation of the unwanted cards from their original positions.
 18. Apparatus as in claim 17 in which the control plate is formed with a series of rack teeth, said apparatus further including a latch on the container normally restraining the control plate against movement out of the container, a support arm pivoted on the support structure, a magnet on the support arm attracting the latch to a control-plate-disengaging position in a first position of the arm, and a gear train carried by said arm including a pinion meshing with the rack teeth in said first arm position to shift the control plate into and out of the container responsive to driving of the gear train, said magnet and gear train being clear of the latch and rack teeth respectively in a second position of the arm. 